In Okinawa, when people refer to zenzai, they're not talking about the kind with grilled mochi and warm red bean soup served in a bowl. Instead, they're talking about a dish where beans boiled in brown sugar and the resulting broth are served as shaved ice.

If you've ever visited Okinawa in the summer, you've probably tried it at least once, haven't you? This simple yet delicious zenzai (sweet red bean soup) is the perfect dessert after a meal.

"Marumitsu Hiyashimono-ten" in Itoman is a local diner that serves zenzai (sweet red bean soup), shaved ice, Okinawa soba, and other dishes.

One day, I happened to visit Marumitsu and met "Marumitsu-kun." I was instantly captivated by his baby face made of beans and canned pineapple, mandarin oranges, and cherries!

This time, we'd like to introduce "Marumitsu-kun," an adorable Okinawan zenzai (sweet red bean soup) that will captivate anyone who sees it.

<Table of Contents>
1. Sweet & Heavy Marumitsu-kun
1-1. What is that huge food item?
1-2. Reunion with Marumitsu-kun & Tasting
2. Marumitsu Chilled Food Shop

1-1. Meeting Marumitsu-kun

The day before, I had work near the Itoman Rotary and happened to go into a local diner after spotting a sign for taco rice. While I was eating my taco rice, I noticed an elderly couple sharing what looked like a large shaved ice dessert out of the corner of my eye.

I had work to do, so I left the shop, but the thought of "what was that all about?" lingered in my mind, so I decided to go back to the shop the next day.

Upon entering the restaurant and looking at the menu, I couldn't find anything that seemed particularly large.

When I asked the shopkeeper, "Do you happen to know what that huge shaved ice-like dessert was that an elderly person was eating yesterday?", they seemed a little hesitant and replied, "Maybe it was Marumitsu-kun..."

Well, I did see Marumitsu-kun on the menu, but when I told them it was really big, they said, "We also have a large size of Marumitsu-kun."

That's it!!!

1-2. Reunion with Marumitsu-kun & Tasting

For comparison purposes, I ordered one regular-sized (¥500 including tax) and one large-sized (¥800 including tax) Marumitsu-kun this time.

While waiting, I decided to look at the other menu items.
(The large size of Marumitsu-kun is not on the menu, but it was posted on the wall.)

Okinawa soba: ¥600 (Set meal with small side dish and Jushi: ¥850)
Authentic Soki Soba ¥750 (Set meal with small side dish and Jushi ¥950)
Vegetable soba noodles ¥650
Goya Champuru ¥650 (Set meal with rice and miso soup ¥700)
Taco rice ¥650

Shaved ice ¥300 (Strawberry, Melon, Blue Hawaii, Mango)
Creamy Zenzai (sweet red bean soup with cream) ¥500
Okinawa chilled zenzai (sweet red bean soup) ¥350
Marumitsu-kun ¥500 (Regular)

Later, a taxi driver and two women who arrived ordered soba noodles.
It seems that locals also use it as a place for a light meal.

After a while, two white chunks were brought out of the kitchen on a tray. Their size was so striking that it immediately caught my eye; they were about the size of a melon and a head of cabbage.

And here it is! Marumitsu-kun, you have a long torso!

Even the regular size is huge! The portion my grandparents were eating yesterday was probably about the same size as the regular. It seems that the regular size at this restaurant is just big.

It's a little hard to see, but I placed an iPhone 6 (approximately 13.5 cm / white and square) to the left of the regular Marumitsu-kun for comparison.

The plates are about 12-3 centimeters in diameter, so when you lift the tray, you can really feel its weight.
The large size is about 25 centimeters tall. Just thinking about eating all of that makes me shiver, a different kind of shiver than from the cold.

I was so focused on its size, but its face is absolutely charming.

I'll mercilessly take a bite right in the face!

Unlike the shaved ice you get at festivals, this milk-flavored ice is incredibly fluffy! It stays fluffy the whole time.
The tartness of the mandarin oranges and pineapples is perfectly balanced, making it easy to eat quickly.

That being said, I'll soon have eaten all the fruit and can't wait to have some zenzai!

Here it is! The zenzai (sweet red bean soup) is delicious. It also has shiratama (rice flour dumplings) in it.

She's cute, but she's also really tasty. A truly adorable, almost annoyingly cute girl.

However, the large size of Marumitsu-kun might be just right if you share it among two or three people.
When you think about eating it all by yourself, the portion size of Marumitsu-kun (large) is anything but cute.

Two women who were eating Okinawan soba went to the cashier to pay first. Apparently, they used to frequent this place when they were in high school, and they came back because they were feeling nostalgic.

"Students from Itoman High School still come here," said the shop owner.

The numerous graffiti markings on the shop's walls show that it was a beloved local establishment for a long time.

Marusan Hiyashimono-ten's predecessor was a zenzai (sweet red bean soup) shop called "Marusan Hiyashimono-ten" which was started by the founders, the Kinjo couple, after they moved from Itoman to Ishigaki (in 35).

In 43, the Kinjo couple moved to Okinawa Main Island (Ginowan) with their family and opened "Marusan Chilled Food Specialty Shop." The name "Marumitsu" became popular when local high school students mispronounced "Marusan" as "Marumitsu."

In 50, the Kinjo couple's long-held wish came true and they moved to Itoman, and in 53, their shop moved to its current location.

The founders, the Kinjo couple, have already retired, but the current owner, who has taken over the business from 53, continues to operate the shop.

A glimpse of the inside of the shop
It seemed that locals often sat by the window facing the street.

Retro items lined up to the right of the entrance.

You used to see notebooks like this often in coffee shops and such.

The interior of the shop feels like you've traveled back in time.

If you search for "Marumitsu-kun" online, you'll find Marumitsu-kun with all sorts of faces. My Marumitsu-kun is pretty cute... Am I being biased? What does your Marumitsu-kun look like?

[Marusan Chilled Food Shop]
967-29 Itoman, Itoman City, Okinawa Prefecture (immediately west of Itoman Rotary)
Parking available / Nearest bus stop: Itoman Rotary
Open all year round
11: 00 to 18: 00 (last order 17: 00)

Please make your hotel reservation here.

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